Trading was mostly lower before USDA released its Acreage and Stocks reports at noon eastern time today. The reports could have been market movers but much of what they said was already expected to some degree. Once released, they confirmed the bearish tone that was already in play but was possibly more driven by helpful showers rolling into some growing areas mid-next week.   While the reports were mostly neutral, they were notable. Corn acres again outnumber soybean acres – farmers love to grow corn despite higher input costs. There may be more spring wheat, but planting is so delayed in the Dakotas and Minnesota that USDA will have to re-survey the area.

Wheat stocks were known to be tight, and there are only slight...